Leftwinger Mamdani wins in New York and promises to take on Trump

A self-proclaimed democratic socialist, he campaigned on an unapologetically progressive platform including a rent freeze for rent-stabilised apartments, free bus service, universal childcare, and city-run grocery stores, all funded by increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy.

- 

When he launched his campaign for mayor last year, he was a relatively unknown state legislator. But his message, focused on affordability, along with his buoyant jaunts throughout New York City, quickly gained traction and resonated with thousands of New Yorkers.

Fuelled by small donations, tens of thousands of volunteers, a savvy social media presence and a message of change, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign built momentum in spring. That culminated in a decisive win in the June Democratic primary, in which he beat the former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo by nearly 13 points, stunning the city’s political establishment by galvanising a diverse coalition that included many young and first-time voters.

Cuomo, who resigned as governor of New York in 2021 after more than a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment (allegations which he has denied), chose to stay in the race and launched an independent campaign against Mamdani.